US10355754B2

Multiple input multiple output distributed antenna system architectures

Summary by NHIP

MIMO Distributed Antenna System

The system couples a remote antenna unit to a head-end unit via multiple uplink signal paths. Each path contains mixers driven by oscillators producing non-overlapping frequency bands, which feed a shared analog-to-digital converter and digital intermediate frequency filters before reaching the base station.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 12, the broadest

Abstract

One embodiment is directed to a multiple input, multiple output (“MIMO”) telecommunications system comprising a plurality of signal paths. The system further comprises mixers located in the plurality of signal paths, the mixers being coupled to oscillators for producing a plurality of signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals. The system further comprises a summer coupled to the plurality of signal paths for summing the plurality of signals to form summed signals. The system further comprises a shared analog-to-digital converter for converting the summed signals to digital signals.

US10355754B2, drawing sheet 1 — Sheet 1 of 8

Term

9.6 yearsleft in the term

Expires 29 April 2036.

22 claims: 2 independent, 20 dependent

1
A multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system, comprising:a head-end unit coupled to a base station;and a remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the head-end unit and located remotely from the head-end unit, wherein the remote antenna unit comprises: a plurality of uplink signal paths;a first plurality of mixers located in the plurality of uplink signal paths, the first plurality of mixers being coupled to first oscillators and configured to produce a plurality of uplink signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals;a first summer coupled to the plurality of uplink signal paths and configured to sum the plurality of uplink signals to form summed uplink signals;and a first shared analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the summed uplink signals to digital uplink signals;wherein the head-end unit is configured to provide uplink signals based on the digital uplink signals to one or more signal ports of the base station.
12
Broadest claimClaim Score 44, average(NHIP)A method performed in a multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system, the method comprising:frequency shifting, using first mixers coupled to first oscillators, signals received in a plurality of uplink signal paths in a remote antenna unit to produce a plurality of uplink signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals;summing the plurality of uplink signals to form summed uplink signals using a summer in the remote antenna unit;converting the summed uplink signals to digital uplink signals using a first wideband analog-to-digital converter in the remote antenna unit;and providing uplink signals based on the digital uplink signals from a head-end unit to one or more signal ports of a base station coupled to the head-end unit.

Independent claims2

53 paragraphs in 5 sections, as filed

This application is a U.S. National Stage application of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2016/030208, filed Apr. 29, 2016, and titled “MULTIPLE INPUT MULTIPLE OUTPUT DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/155,574, filed May 1, 2015, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to architectures for multiple input, multiple output (“MIMO”) distributed antenna systems, and more particularly, to the use of high dynamic range analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters in distributed antenna system architectures.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is directed to a multiple input, multiple output telecommunications system comprising a plurality of signal paths. The system further comprises mixers located in the plurality of signal paths, the mixers being coupled to oscillators for producing a plurality of signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals. The system further comprises a summer coupled to the plurality of signal paths for summing the plurality of signals to form summed signals. The system further comprises a shared analog-to-digital converter for converting the summed signals to digital signals.

DRAWINGS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of an example telecommunications system according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic of an example conventional architecture for a distributed antenna system.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic of an example of an alternative architecture to the conventional architecture for a distributed antenna system according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic of another example of an alternate architecture to the conventional architecture for a distributed antenna system according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a schematic of an example architecture for a MIMO DAS coupled to a SISO base station according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a schematic of an example alternate architecture for a MIMO DAS coupled to a SISO base station according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Architectures for a digital distributed antenna system (“DAS”) with MIMO may use dedicated paths for each signal to and from antennas at a remote unit and antenna ports at a base station. Very high dynamic range analog-to-digital (“A/D”) and digital-to-analog (“D/A”) converters may be used to allow for alternative and improved architectures for DAS systems.

A remote unit in a MIMO system may include multiple signal paths (e.g., two input signal paths and two output signal paths). The signal paths may include mixers coupled to oscillators. The mixers and oscillators may process wireless signals received in the signal path so the frequency bands of the wireless signals do not overlap. The non-overlapping signals may be applied to a summer coupled to the signal paths to combine, or sum, the non-overlapping signals from the multiple signal paths. In an uplink direction, a very high dynamic range A/D converter may be used to digitize the combined signals. In a downlink direction, a very high dynamic range D/A converter may be used to recreate analog signals from the combined signals. The A/D and D/A converters may have sample rates or analog bandwidths sufficient to digitize or recreate analog signals containing multiple signal channels.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows an example of a telecommunications system that may be used for implementing an aspect of the present disclosure.

The telecommunications system may include a DAS 100 having multiple input and multiple output channels (e.g., a MIMO DAS). A base station 101 may be communicatively coupled to DAS 100 via a head-end unit 102 in DAS 100. DAS 100 includes remote unit 103 communicatively coupled to head-end unit 102. Remote unit may include a receive antenna port 104 and a transmit antenna port 105. In some aspects, receive antenna port 104 may represent multiple receive antennas and transmit antenna port 105 may represent multiple transmit antennas. For illustrative purposes, one head-end unit and one remote unit are depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. But, any number of head-end units and remote units may be included in DAS 100.

In some aspects, head-end unit 102 may be a master unit or other suitable unit that may communicate with one or more base stations or other transceiver devices in communication with DAS 100. Head-end unit 102 may include, for example, an optical transceiver that transmits optical signals to remote unit 103. Head-end unit 102 or other suitable unit may communicate with remote units in different coverage zones of DAS 100.

DAS 100 may communicate signals to and from mobile stations or other terminal devices via head-end unit 102 and remote unit 103 that services one or more coverage zones. Head-end unit 102 may be communicatively coupled with base station 101 and remote unit 103 in any suitable manner. Communicatively coupling devices in DAS 100 or another telecommunication system may involve establishing, maintaining, or otherwise using a communication link (e.g., a cable, an optical fiber, a wireless link, etc.) to communicate information between the devices. Any suitable types of communication links may be used. A suitable communication link may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. Types of wired connections may include, for example, a connection via a copper cable, an optical fiber, or another suitable communication medium. The type of communication link between base station 101 and head-end unit 102 may be the same as or different from the type of communication link between head-end unit 102 and remote unit 103.

Head-end 102 unit may provide downlink signals from base station 101 to remote unit 103 and receive uplink signals from remote unit 103 to be provided to base station 101. Downlink signals may include signals provided from base station 101 and transmitted by remote unit 103 to coverage zones. Uplink signals may include signals transmitted by mobile stations or other terminal devices and received by remote unit 103. The downlink and uplink signals may include MIMO signals.

Remote unit 103 may provide signal coverage in one or more coverage zones. Providing signal coverage in the coverage zones may include wirelessly transmitting downlink signals received from head-end unit 102 to mobile stations or other terminal devices in the coverage zones. Providing signal coverage in the coverage zones may also include wirelessly receiving uplink signals from the mobile communication devices or other mobile stations or other terminal devices in the coverage zones. Remote unit 103 may transmit the uplink signals to head-end unit 102. Head-end unit 102 may transmit the uplink signals to base station 101.

Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> depicts direct links between head-end unit 102 and remote unit 103, other implementations may be possible. In some aspects, head-end unit 102 may be communicatively coupled to remote unit 103 via one or more extension units or other intermediate devices.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a schematic of an example conventional architecture for DAS 100 in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> having two input channels and two output channels (2×2), according to one aspect. Base station 101 includes multiple antenna ports communicatively coupled to DAS 100 via head-end unit 102. Head-end unit 102 is communicatively coupled to remote unit 103 via a digital filtering and transport (“DFT”) unit 200 containing filtering components. The architecture includes a dedicated signal path for each channel using separate A/D and D/A converters. DAS 100 includes four channels with two uplink paths 201a, 201b and two downlink paths 202a, 202b. Although a 2×2 MIMO DAS architecture is shown, the architecture may support additional channels without departing from the scope of the present disclosure (e.g., 4×4, etc.).

In the uplink direction, uplink paths 201a, 201b are coupled to antennas 203a, 203b, respectively. In remote unit 103, uplink path 201a includes low-noise amplifier 204, mixer 205, amplifier 206, anti-aliasing filter 207, amplifier 208, and A/D converter 209. Remote unit is communicatively coupled to DFT unit 200 that includes a digital intermediate frequency (“IF”) filter 210 in uplink path 201a. DFT unit 200 is communicatively coupled to head-end unit 102 that includes D/A converter 211, analog filter 212, mixer 213, amplifier 214, and variable attenuator 215. Head-end unit is communicatively coupled to base station 101. Uplink path 201b similarly includes low-noise amplifier 216, mixer 217, amplifier 218, anti-aliasing filter 219, amplifier 220, and A/D converter 220 in remote unit 103, communicatively coupled to digital IF filter 222 in DFT unit 200. In head-end unit 102, uplink path 201b includes D/A converter 223, analog filter 224, mixer 225, amplifier 226, and variable attenuator 227. Mixer 205 in uplink path 201a and mixer 217 in uplink path 201b are coupled to oscillator 228. Mixer 213 in uplink path 201a and mixer 225 in uplink path 201b are coupled to oscillator 229.

In the downlink direction, downlink path 202a includes mixer 230, anti-aliasing filter 231, and A/D converter 232 in head-end unit 102 coupled to digital IF filter 233 in DFT unit 200. Downlink path 202a includes D/A converter 234, analog filter 235, mixer 236, and power amplifier 237 in remote unit 103. Downlink path 202b includes mixer 238, anti-aliasing filter 239, and A/D converter 240 in head-end unit 102 coupled to digital IF filter 241 in DFT unit 200. Downlink path 202b includes D/A converter 242, analog filter 243, mixer 244, and power amplifier 245 in remote unit 103. Mixer 230 in downlink path 202a and mixer 238 in downlink path 202b are coupled to oscillator 246. Mixer 236 in downlink path 202a and mixer 244 are coupled to oscillator 247. Signals in downlink paths 202a, 202b are transmitted by remote unit 103 via antennas 248a, 248b, respectively.

Each path (uplink paths 201a, 201b and downlink paths 202a, 202b) includes separate A/D and D/A converters for converting the signals in each path because the A/D converters and D/A converters do not have sufficient bandwidths for more than one path.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a schematic of an example of an alternative architecture to the conventional architecture shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> using shared wideband A/D converters, according to one aspect. The architecture includes two uplink paths 300a, 300b and two downlink paths 301a, 301b. The uplink paths 300a, 300b are coupled to antennas 302a, 302b, respectively for receiving uplink signals. The uplink paths 300a, 300b include, respectively, low-noise amplifiers 303a, 303b, mixers 304a, 304b coupled to oscillators 305a, 305b, respectively, amplifiers 306a, 306b, anti-aliasing filters 307a, 307b, summer 308, and shared wideband A/D converter 309 in remote unit 310. Uplink signals in each of the uplink paths 300a, 300b may be mixed using mixers 304a, 304b and oscillators 305a, 305b such that the signals outputted from the mixers 304a, 304b occupy non-overlapping frequency bands. Mixing the signals such that they occupy non-overlapping frequency bands may result in orthogonality between signals, thus allowing the signals to be separable following being combined by summer 308. The signals may be summed using summer 308 and applied to shared wideband A/D converter 309 to digitize the output signals. In DFT unit 311, the digitized output signals are separately filtered by digital IF filters 311a, 311b that may limit the bandwidth of the output signals. The signals may be translated back to appropriate overlapping intermediate frequencies using mixers 313a, 313b, coupled to digital numerically controlled oscillators 314a, 314b, respectively. In head-end unit 316, the signals may be applied to D/A converters 316a, 316b. Uplink paths 300a, 300b include, respectively, analog filters 317a, 317b, mixers 318a, 318b coupled to oscillator 319, amplifiers 320a, 320b, and variable attenuators 321a, 321b to translate the signals to the appropriate RF for transmission to base station 322.

Downlink signals in downlink paths 301a, 301b may experience similar processing as they are transmitted from base station 322 to remote unit 310 via head-end unit 315 and DFT unit 311. In head-end unit 315, the downlink signals are travel though mixers 323a, 323b, coupled to oscillators 324a, 324b, respectively, anti-aliasing filters 325a, 325b, summer 326, and shared wideband A/D converter 327. Similar to the uplink signals in remote unit 310, the downlink signals in head-end unit 315 may be mixed using mixers 323a, 323b and oscillators 324a, 324b such that the outputted downlink signals occupy non-overlapping frequency bands. The downlink signals may be filtered and digitized by shared wideband A/D converter 327. The digitized downlink signals may be separated and filtered by digital IF filters 328a, 328b that may limit the bandwidth of the digitized downlink signals. The downlink signals may be translated back to appropriate overlapping intermediate frequencies by mixers 329a, 329b coupled to digital numerically controlled oscillators 330a, 330b, respectively, in DFT unit 311. In remote unit 310, downlink paths 301a, 301b include separate D/A converters 331a, 331b, analog filters 332a, 332b, mixers 333a, 333b, coupled to oscillator 334, and power amplifiers 335a, 335b. Downlink signals in downlink paths 301a, 301b are transmitted by remote unit 310 via antennas 336a, 336b, respectively.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a schematic of another example of an alternate architecture to the conventional architecture shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> using shared wideband A/D converters and shared wideband D/A converters, according to one aspect. Signals in uplink paths 400a, 400b or downlink paths 401a, 401b may be translated to non-overlapping frequency bands and digitized as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. But, instead of digitally translating them back to overlapping intermediate frequencies as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the non-overlapping signals may be applied to a shared wideband D/A converter. The non-overlapping signals outputted from the shared wideband D/A converter may be translated back to the common RF frequency and applied to the separate ports at base station 402 (for uplink signals in uplink paths 400a, 400b) or antennas 403a, 403b (for downlink signals in downlink paths 401a, 401b, respectively) at remote unit 404.

In the uplink direction, uplink paths 400a, 400b are coupled to antennas 432a, 432b, respectively. In the uplink direction, uplink paths 400a, 400b include, respectively, low-noise amplifiers 405a, 405b, mixers 406a, 406b, coupled to oscillators 407a, 407b, respectively, amplifiers 408a, 408b, anti-aliasing filters 409a, 409b, summer 410, and shared wideband A/D converter 411 in remote unit 404. Remote unit 404 is coupled to DFT unit 412 that includes digital IF filters 413a, 413b. DFT unit 412 is coupled to head-end unit 414 that includes shared wideband D/A converter 415, analog filter 416, mixers 417a, 417b, coupled to oscillators 418a, 418b, respectively, amplifiers 419a, 419b, and variable attenuators 420a, 420b.

In the downlink direction, head-end unit 414 includes mixers 421a, 421b, coupled to oscillators 422a, 422b, respectively, anti-aliasing filters 423a, 423b, summer 424, and shared wideband A/D converter 425. Head-end unit 414 is coupled to DFT unit 412 that includes digital IF filters 426a, 426b. DFT unit 412 is coupled to remote unit 404. Downlink paths 401a, 401b include shared wideband D/A converter 427, analog filter 428, and, respectively, mixers 429a, 429b, coupled to oscillators 430a, 430b, respectively, and amplifiers 431a, 431b.

In some aspects, a MIMO DAS may be coupled to a single input single output (“SISO”) base station. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> shows a schematic of an example architecture for a MIMO DAS coupled to a SISO base station and using wideband A/D converters and D/A converters. The architecture includes remote unit 500 coupled to SISO base station 501 via DFT unit 502 and head-end unit 503. In the uplink direction, uplink signals in uplink paths 504a, 504b may be received from antennas 505a, 505b, respectively, translated to non-overlapping frequencies, and digitized as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. In remote unit 500, uplink paths 504a, 504b include, respectively, low noise amplifiers 506a, 506b, mixers 507a, 507b, coupled to oscillators 508a, 508b, respectively, amplifiers 509a, 509b, anti-aliasing filters 510a, 510b, summer 511, and shared wideband A/D converter 512. The uplink signals in remote unit 500 may be translated to non-overlapping frequency bands using mixers 507a, 507b and oscillators 508a, 508b, digitized by shared wideband A/D converter 512 and transmitted to DFT unit 502.

In DFT unit 502, the non-overlapping uplink signals may be separately applied to variable digital filters H1, H2 and translated to overlapping RF or intermediate frequencies using mixers 513a, 513b, coupled to digital numerically controlled oscillators 514a, 514b, respectively. Variable digital filters H1, H2 may be adjusted to steer the antenna pattern of antennas 505a, 505b. In head-end unit 503, the uplink signals may be converted to analog using shared wideband D/A converter 515, translated back to RF, and transmitted to the signal port at base station 501. In head-end unit 503, the uplink signals may be applied to shared wideband D/A converter 515, analog filter 516, amplifier 517, and variable attenuator 518.

Similarly, in the downlink direction, downlink signal from base station 501 may be digitized and split into downlink paths 519a, 519b. Head-end unit 503 may include a mixer 520 coupled to an oscillator 521, an anti-aliasing filter 522, and shared wideband A/D converter 523 for translating the downlink signals to non-overlapping frequency bands and digitizing the non-overlapping downlink signals. The downlink signals may be transmitted to DFT unit 502 for filtering by variable digital filters H3, H4. The downlink signals may be transmitted from DFT unit 502 to remote unit 500. In remote unit 500, the downlink signals may be applied to separate D/A converters 524a, 524b, separately translated back to RF using analog filters 525a, 525b, mixers 526a, 526b, coupled to oscillator 527, and power amplifiers 528a, 528b for transmission by remote unit 500 via antennas 529a, 529b. Similar to variable digital filters H1, H2, variable digital filters H3, H4 may be adjusted to steer the antenna pattern of antennas 529a, 529b.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows a schematic of an example alternate of the architecture shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> using a shared wideband D/A converter in the downlink direction. Head-end unit 503 may be coupled to remote unit 600 via DFT unit 601. In the uplink direction, remote unit 600 and DFT 601 include the same architecture as remote unit 500 and DFT 502 in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. Specifically, remote unit 600 includes uplink paths 602a, 602b coupled to antennas 603a, 603b, respectively. The uplink paths 602a, 602b in remote unit 600 include low-noise amplifiers 604a, 604b, mixers 605a, 605b, coupled to oscillators 606a, 606b, respectively, amplifiers 607a, 607b, anti-aliasing filters 608a, 608b, summer 609, and wideband A/D converter 610. DFT unit 601 includes variable digital filters H5, H6 and mixers 611a, 611b, coupled to digital numerically controlled oscillators 612a, 612b, respectively.

In DFT 601, downlink digital signals from head-end unit 503 may be separately filtered by variable digital filters H7, H8 and translated to non-overlapping frequency bands using mixers 613a, 613b, coupled to numerically controlled oscillators 614a, 614b. The signals may be transmitted to remote unit 600. The downlink signals may be applied to shared wideband D/A converter 614 and analog filter 615 in remote unit 600. The non-overlapping analog outputs from analog filter 615 may be translated to an appropriate RF frequency using analog mixers 616a, 616b, coupled to oscillators 617a, 617b, respectively, amplified by power amplifier 618, and transmitted by remote unit 600 via antennas 619a, 619b.

Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref> show a single signal port of a SISO base station, the present disclosure may be implemented with multiple ports of a MIMO base station. It may be possible to attain throughput gains realizable with a MIMO base station implementation as well as antenna beam steering of a DAS remote unit, depending on installation of the DAS.

Example Embodiments

Example 1 includes a multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system, comprising: a plurality of signal paths; mixers located in the plurality of signal paths, the mixers being coupled to oscillators for producing a plurality of signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals; a summer coupled to the plurality of signal paths for summing the plurality of signals to form summed signals; and a shared analog-to-digital converter for converting the summed signals to digital signals.

Example 2 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of Example 1, wherein the shared analog-to-digital converter is shared among the plurality of signal paths for converting the plurality of signals to a plurality of digital signals.

Example 3 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 1-2, wherein the oscillators include variable frequencies for producing the plurality of signals as orthogonal to each other.

Example 4 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 1-3, further comprising: a shared digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital signals to analog signals.

Example 5 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 1-4, further comprising: digital intermediate frequency filters coupled to the shared analog-to-digital converter for limiting bandwidth of the digital signals.

Example 6 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 1-5, further comprising variable digital filters coupled to the shared analog-to-digital converter for steering a remote unit antenna pattern.

Example 7 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 1-6, wherein the system is a distributed antenna system.

Example 8 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of Example 7, wherein the mixers, the oscillators, the summer, and the shared analog-to-digital converter are in an uplink signal path of the distributed antenna system.

Example 9 includes the multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system of any of Examples 7-8, wherein the mixers, the oscillators, the summer, and the shared analog-to-digital converter are in a downlink signal path of the distributed antenna system.

Example 10 includes a method performed in a multiple input and multiple output telecommunications system, the method comprising: frequency shifting, using mixers coupled to oscillators, signals received in a plurality of signal paths to produce a plurality of signals occupying non-overlapping frequency bands and representative of wireless signals; summing the plurality of signals to form summed signals using a summer; and converting the summed signals to digital signals using a wideband analog-to-digital converter.

Example 11 includes the method of Example 10, wherein the wideband analog-to-digital converter is shared among the plurality of signal paths, the method further comprising converting the plurality of signals to a plurality of digital signals.

Example 12 includes the method of any of Examples 10-11, wherein the oscillators include variable frequencies for producing the plurality of signals as orthogonal to each other.

Example 13 includes the method of any of Examples 10-12, further comprising converting the digital signals to analog signals using a wideband digital-to-analog converter.

Example 14 includes the method of any of Examples 10-13, further comprising limiting bandwidth of the digital signals using digital intermediate frequency filters coupled to the wideband analog-to-digital converter.

Example 15 includes the method of any of Examples 10-14, further comprising steering a remote unit antenna pattern using variable digital filters coupled to the wideband analog-to-digital converter.

Example 16 includes the method of any of Examples 10-15, wherein the system is a distributed antenna system.

Example 17 includes the method of Example 16, wherein the mixers, the oscillators, the summer, and the wideband analog-to-digital converter are in an uplink signal path of the distributed antenna system.

Example 18 includes the method of any of Examples 16-17, wherein the mixers, the oscillators, the summer, and the wideband analog-to-digital converter are in a downlink signal path of the distributed antenna system.

The foregoing description of the examples, including illustrated examples, has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The illustrative examples described above are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts.

Contents5

Every citation, both waysCites: the store holds 40 of 41

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201562155574	United States of America	P	2015-05-01
201562155574	United States of America	P	2015-05-01
2016030208	United States of America	W	2016-04-29
2016030208	United States of America	W	2016-04-29
201615571239	United States of America	A	2016-04-29
62155574	–	–	–
PCTUS2016030208	–	–	–
US201562155574P	–	–	–
US201615571239	–	–	–
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WO2016179021A1	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A1	2016-11-10
CN107438956A	China	A	2017-12-05
EP3289738A1	European Patent Office (EPO)	A1	2018-03-07
US2018278299A1	United States of America	A1	2018-09-27
EP3289738A4	European Patent Office (EPO)	A4	2018-12-19
US10355754B2This record	United States of America	B2	2019-07-16
US2019341971A1	United States of America	A1	2019-11-07
US10715220B2	United States of America	B2	2020-07-14
CN107438956B	China	B	2020-11-03
EP3289738B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2020-12-02
EP3860066A1	European Patent Office (EPO)	A1	2021-08-04

65 transactions on the USPTO file

Allowed after 1 non-final rejection.

Non-final rejections: 1
Final rejections: 0
RCEs: 0
Appeals: 0

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Transactions

Prosecution transactions, newest first
	Event	Code
2023-01-16	Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large EntityM1551	M1551
2019-07-16	Recordation of Patent Grant MailedPGM/	PGM/
2019-07-16	Patent Issue Date Used in PTA CalculationAllowedPTAC	PTAC
2019-06-27	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2019-06-26	Issue Notification MailedAllowedWPIR	WPIR
2019-06-24	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2019-06-24	Mail PUB other miscellaneous communication to applicantMM327-D	MM327-D
2019-06-20	Dispatch to FDCD1935	D1935
2019-06-20	PUB Other miscellaneous communication to applicantM327-D	M327-D
2019-06-17	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2019-06-17	Printer Rush- No mailingTCPB	TCPB
2019-06-17	Mail Response to 312 Amendment (PTO-271)MN271	MN271
2019-06-11	Application Is Considered Ready for IssuePILS	PILS
2019-06-11	Response to Amendment under Rule 312N271	N271
2019-06-11	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2019-05-21	Pubs Case Remand to TCPUBTC	PUBTC
2019-05-20	Amendment after Notice of Allowance (Rule 312)AllowedA.NA	A.NA
2019-05-20	Issue Fee Payment VerifiedN084	N084
2019-05-20	Issue Fee Payment ReceivedIFEE	IFEE
2019-04-10	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2019-04-10	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2019-04-10	Filing Receipt - CorrectedFLRCPT.C	FLRCPT.C
2019-04-10	Change in Power of Attorney (May Include Associate POA)PA..	PA..
2019-04-02	Miscellaneous Incoming LetterLET.	LET.
2019-02-21	Electronic ReviewELC_RVW	ELC_RVW
2019-02-21	Email NotificationEML_NTF	EML_NTF
2019-02-21	Mail Notice of AllowanceAllowedMN/=.	MN/=.
2019-02-16	Notice of Allowance Data Verification CompletedAllowedN/=.	N/=.
2019-02-11	Reasons for AllowanceEX.R	EX.R
2019-01-28	Information Disclosure Statement consideredIDSC	IDSC
2018-12-27	PTA statement filed under PTA1.704(d) with IDSIDSPTA	IDSPTA
2018-12-27	Electronic Information Disclosure StatementEIDS.	EIDS.
2018-12-27	Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledWIDS	WIDS
2018-12-10	Date Forwarded to ExaminerFWDX	FWDX
2018-11-23	Response after Non-Final ActionA...	A...
2018-09-28	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2018-09-27	Application ready for PDX access by participating foreign officesCCRDY	CCRDY
2018-09-27	PG-Pub Issue NotificationPG-ISSUE	PG-ISSUE
2018-08-24	Electronic ReviewELC_RVW	ELC_RVW
2018-08-24	Email NotificationEML_NTF	EML_NTF
2018-08-23	Mail Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionMCTNF	MCTNF
2018-08-14	Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionCTNF	CTNF
2018-08-14	Information Disclosure Statement consideredIDSC	IDSC
2018-07-18	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2018-06-29	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2018-06-27	Application Is Now CompleteCOMP	COMP
2018-06-27	Application Dispatched from OIPEOIPE	OIPE
2018-06-18	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2018-06-18	Email NotificationEML_NTR	EML_NTR
2018-06-18	Notice of DO/EO Acceptance MailedM903	M903
2018-06-18	Filing ReceiptFLRCPT.O	FLRCPT.O
2018-06-15	Sent to Classification ContractorPGPC	PGPC
2018-06-15	FITF set to YES - revise initial settingFTFS	FTFS
2017-11-15	Cleared by OIPE CSRL194	L194
2017-11-15	Cleared by OIPE CSRL194	L194
2017-11-15	Cleared by OIPE CSRL194	L194
2017-11-01	Request for Foreign Priority (Priority Papers May Be Included)RQPR	RQPR
2017-11-01	Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledM844	M844
2017-11-01	371 Completion Date371COMP	371COMP
2017-11-01	Patent Term Adjustment - Ready for ExaminationPTA.RFE	PTA.RFE
2017-11-01	PTO/SB/69-Authorize EPO Access to Search ResultsSREXR141	SREXR141
2017-11-01	Applicants have given acceptable permission for participating foreignAPPERMS	APPERMS
2017-11-01	Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledWIDS	WIDS
2017-11-01	Entity Status Set To Undiscounted (Initial Default Setting or Status Change)BIG.	BIG.
2017-11-01	Initial Exam Team nnIEXX	IEXX

7 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC

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Events

Legal events, newest first
	Event	Code
2023-01-16	Maintenance fee paymentMAFP	MAFP
2019-06-26	Information on status: patent grantGrantedPATENTED CASESTCF	STCF
2019-06-11	Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in generalPUBLICATIONS -- ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIEDSTPP	STPP
2019-05-22	Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in generalAWAITING TC RESP, ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIEDSTPP	STPP
2019-02-19	Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in generalNOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONSSTPP	STPP
2018-11-26	AssignmentAS	AS
2017-11-01	Fee payment procedureENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITYFEPP	FEPP

Multiple input multiple output distributed antenna system architectures

Summary by NHIP

Claim Score by NHIP

Abstract